A long night passed, and the morning dawned at Han-yul Military Academy.
“Grooooooan…!”
Arna Kristin Dotir woke up at her usual time, took a shower, dried her hair, applied some makeup, and got dressed.
Lastly, she didn’t forget to wear her artifact earrings.
“Hmm….”
Arna checked her appearance in the mirror one last time, ensuring her makeup hadn’t smudged and her clothes weren’t wrinkled.
“Passed. As usual, I look great.”
Though it felt a little conceited, Arna believed she was beautiful.
Her lustrous golden hair, her flawless skin without a single blemish, and her impressive figure that was hardly concealed even by her attire—
Had she not awakened to her powers, she might very well have been an actress by now.
“I really shouldn’t be thinking like this though…”
Even Arna wasn’t immune to her femininity. She was filled with an overpowering desire to flaunt her charm.
A hero must always shine, after all.
“Hmm, I still have some time left…”
She had finished getting ready faster than expected. There was still time before class, so Arna sat on the bed and picked up her phone.
“…”
At night, she had a hobby of reading romance mangas, but in the morning, she had the habit of using her phone.
Once she stepped out, it became difficult to use her phone freely. She shouldn’t appear too engrossed in her phone in front of others.
It wasn’t befitting of a hero.
Thus, this moment of privacy was the only time she could freely enjoy her phone.
Tap tap.
The first thing she did upon turning on her phone was to access the school community, “Every Hunter.”
Arna typed her own name in the general bulletin board and pressed the search button.
That’s right.
This was Arna’s hidden hobby—ego searching.
─── Every Hunter Han-yul Military Academy ───
<Arna> Search results
[Anon: Did anyone see the YouTube video of Arna’s photo shoot?]
[Anon: Calling all Arna goddess fans!]
[Anon: Once again, I proclaim, thank you for coming to this hellish world, Arna!]
[Anon: Everyone knows by now, right? Arna is currently the top-tier Awakened.]
[Anon: Arna’s talent is no joke—she’s going to surpass Kang Yuri’s career achievements in just a few years!]
───
“Hehe….”
All of the posts were compliments. It made her heart feel warm and fuzzy. Praise was always fresh and invigorating no matter how many times you received it.
This was why she did ego searching.
“…”
But where there’s light, shadow inevitably follows. Arna decided to carefully uncover the dark corners.
She typed another name into the search bar, the initials “OOO.”
─── Every Hunter Han-yul Military Academy ───
<OOO> Search results
[Anon: Did you see OOO on the TV praising Korea? It was utterly disgusting how they were forcibly inserting national pride into the narrative. I hope they trip and fall on a LEGO while walking down the street.]
[Anon: Anyway, OOO will drop out right after graduation. They’re just fake nationalists.]
[Anon: Seriously, it’s those OOO fans who are the problem. What has she achieved? What does she have compared to someone like Kang Yuri?]
[Anon: To be honest, it’s disgusting when OOO fans attack Kang Yuri like this is the right moment.]
[Anon: Fact check: OOO’s undefeated record in evaluation battles? Most of it was thanks to SNG. Isn’t SNG the real star?]
[Anon: Bet my life she’ll never reach Kang Yuri’s level. If you think otherwise, go jump in a lake!]
[Anon: Honestly, if OOO’s looks weren’t top-tier, like SSS, would she even be noticed? She’d probably be buried and never make it on TV.]
[Anon: Why are hunters nowadays all becoming like idols? OOO started it, didn’t she? All she does is stir up viral controversies for no real reason.]
───
“IIIIIIIEEEEEK…!”
It was barely morning, and already her blood was boiling. Her chest was burning, her head heating up.
She knew it well. Where there are supporters, there are critics. Not everyone in the world could have a favorable opinion of Arna. There were bound to be people who disapproved of her in some corner of the world.
“Haa…”
Even though she was aware…
Even though she was aware—it still hurt so much.
The thoughtless stones thrown her way weighed heavily on her heart.
“At least, it’d be better if they said something to my face…”
At times like these, it was impossible not to think of Shin Yoon-seong. At least he wasn’t the type to hide behind anonymity.
“Huh?”
While continuing her ego search, a particular post caught Arna’s eye.
[Anon: What is this picture of OOO? Is the guy in front her boyfriend? Anyone know who he is?]
A boyfriend? She hadn’t done anything scandalous. Arna barely had any interaction with the opposite sex.
If anything, the one thing that could be suspect was…
“I did go to a sushi restaurant with someone recently though…”
Could it be a picture taken then? Had it already spread online?
Clutching her racing heart, Arna carefully clicked on the post.
Praying it wasn’t what she feared…
───
Title: What’s this picture of OOO? Is the guy in front her boyfriend? Anyone know who he is?
Content: Self-awareness at its finest. Haha, the joke’s on OOO.
File Name: Rough_Frog_Grinning_Meme.jpg
───
“AAAAAAH…!!!”
“Wahaha! Let’s substitute today’s lecture with fishing!”
－－Swashhhhh－－
A massive wave crashed against the rocks. Tiny water droplets sprayed and enveloped the area like mist.
The students grimaced at the salty ocean spray.
“What kind of fishing is this anyway…?”
The subject of the lecture was “Fostering Creative Thinking.”
Combat Division instructor Geum Gye-jun once again left many of the students bewildered with his eccentric topics.
“Haha…”
Arna was equally confused.
Today, her hairstyle was looking particularly good, but it risked being ruined by the sea breeze.
“Fishing should not be taken lightly!”
Combat Division instructor Geum Gye-jun held up a supply-issue fishing rod with a robust voice. Where on earth did he get such a thing?
The man was strangely prepared.
“Through fishing, we can learn many important lessons! Patience, for example, is one of them!”
Geum Gye-jun cast his fishing line far out into the water.
Dressed in a Giants uniform with an orange bag perched on his head, the towering man quietly savored the joy of fishing.
His appearance was both ridiculous and, oddly enough, terrifying.
“Patience is one of the essential qualities that must be cultivated by all Awakened individuals. Today’s lecture will focus on learning patience through this act of fishing.”
－Buuuh－
The students began to jeer. What sort of hardship was this after a pleasant Friday?
“However, if anyone manages to catch even one fish, they may leave immediately.”
－Ohhh!－
“But if no one catches even a single fish, there will be no leaving early. Using magical power to catch fish will also be considered a failure.”
Honestly, catching one fish should be doable. With that expectation, the students began grabbing their supply-issue fishing rods.
Arna picked one up as well.
“Let’s see…”
Now the task was to find a good fishing spot. Arna scanned around the rocky shore.
Where could she position herself to catch the most fish?
“Arna, right here.”
At that moment, Shin Yoon-seong’s voice sounded from behind. Arna turned her head.
“Aaaahh! What are all these equipment for!?” she shrieked.
The sudden sight of a tent erected right in the middle of the rocks left her no choice but to scream.
And that was just the start. Next to the tent were folding chairs, an icebox, cooking utensils, mosquito coils, and lamps—Shin Yoon-seong had prepared like it was his life’s mission.
“And what’s with that mismatched vest and hat! Ugh, even the ugly fanny pack!?”
“You’re overreacting. For any fisherman, this is the bare minimum. Do you need some for yourself, Arna?”
“I don’t need them…!”
It was unbelievable. When had he prepared all this stuff? There was no prior announcement about fishing today.
“Feel free to ask if you need anything. Fellow anglers should support each other.”
“Angler, what!? I’m catching just one fish and leaving!”
But somehow, Arna found herself fishing beside Shin Yoon-seong.
Well, she planned to catch just one fish and then leave quickly.
“Look! There’s a bite already! See, it came almost immediately!”
As soon as she cast her line, a signal came. Excited, Arna quickly began reeling it in.
－Chaaak－
But what she pulled up was not a fish—it was a black seaweed strand.
“…”
“Fishing is not as easy as you think.”
“Guuuh, it’s fine… I’ve experienced the first bite, so the next should come, right…?”
“The saying goes ‘the first nibble is a dog’s nibble.'”
“Shut up!!”
Dun dun.
This time, Shin Yoon-seong’s rod reacted. Rising from his chair, he casually stretched his shoulders and neck.
The air of an expert fisherman radiated from him.
“Take note. You’re about to witness the skill of a true angler.”
Grabbing the rod, Shin Yoon-seong rhythmically reeled in the line with consistent movements.
－Chaaak－
However, the catch was not a fish this time either—it was a tattered piece of cloth soaked with seawater.
“What? You made it sound like you’re about to catch the fish of a lifetime.”
“…”
“Turns out you’re just as bad.”
The morning passed…
The afternoon passed…
It was nearing dusk.
“Hey, Spoon! I’m heading out first!”
In the distance, a male student shouted, sporting tattoos on his neck.
As the male student left…
There were now just two people left on the shore.
“…”
“…”
Just Arna and Shin Yoon-seong remained, still fishing long after everyone else had gone home.
“How… Why… Why haven’t we caught even a single fish after all this time?”
Arna couldn’t believe it. Combined, they had caught exactly zero fish. Was there some kind of curse? Maybe the spot was the problem?
“In fishing, this kind of night also happens naturally. There’s no need to get too anxious.”
Shin Yoon-seong calmly peeled a protein bar while enjoying the ocean view.
Could he really plan to stay here all night? Arna couldn’t comprehend Shin Yoon-seong’s mindset at all.
“Is it even possible to remain so relaxed? I can’t help but think about others leaving one by one…”
“No thoughts at all.”
Shin Yoon-seong continued.
“Anyway, this class is a pass/fail course, right? It’s not like it runs on a grading system where there’s competition.”
“But, even so…”
“Could it be that you feel the compulsion to be number one in everything, including this subject?”
“…”
Top student Arna.
Every day, Arna strives to meet societal expectations.
She doesn’t overlook even the smallest things. A hero must be perfect in studies, sports, grooming, and everything else.
Even this fishing had to yield impressive results.
“You’re tired, aren’t you?”
“But… Even the slightest misstep could lead to people criticizing me…”
“Have you personally encountered such criticism?”
“Eh… Not really directly in front of me… but…”
Arna trailed off.
Shin Yoon-seong mulled it over for a moment, then sighed as if realizing something.
“Haa… So you’ve been doing ego searches, huh?”
“Erk…”
“Why do you keep doing such a foolish thing? You’re only hurting yourself for no good reason.”
As a member of the community site, Shin Yoon-seong himself was considered quite famous.
“Anyone would naturally be bothered when they see their name prominently posted! How can I not notice!”
“You shouldn’t take seriously writings by people whose faces you don’t even know. There’s no need to react earnestly.”
“Your mental resilience… I really admire it…”
And it was true. Among other things, he had the kind of mental toughness she really wanted to emulate.
Would it make her a little more at ease to do so?
“I’ve said it before too, Arna. You need to let go of certain things.”
“…”
“Striving endlessly to be a hero is certainly commendable, but you must also know how to reflect on yourself.”
While concluding his words, Shin Yoon-seong himself was somewhat surprised.
He never thought he would be saying such things.
He was simply passing on what the art director had told him, before coming to this world.
Above all, Shin Yoon-seong was an experienced person.
Someone who had run blindly towards success, who had burned himself out fighting for everything in the past.
But what was the result?
He had nothing to show for it. No reward for his efforts.
He couldn’t blame anyone.
It was entirely his own fault for failing to take care of himself.
He stumbled over his own feet for pushing too hard.
Thus, at least, he hoped Arna wouldn’t follow the same path.
He didn’t want her to walk the same road he once did.
“All things occur at the right time.”
“…”
“After it all collapses and you try to piece it back together, it’s too late.”
“…”
“Are you listening?”
“…”
It was quiet. Arna, who had been so vocal, was silent now.
Shin Yoon-seong subtly glanced at her.
“Is she asleep right now?”
“A, Ah! Sorry! I dozed off after standing for hours! What did you just say?”
“Never mind, let’s just… drop it.”
He was trying to give her some good advice, but she fell asleep? All the heartfelt sensitivity Shin Yoon-seong had built up went cold in an instant.
“Ack! Bite!”
At that moment, Arna’s rod reacted. Was it another strand of seaweed caught on the line?
“Huh…! It’s real, it’s really happening! This time it’s for real!”
Arna gripped the rod with all her strength. But her posture seemed dangerously unstable.
“This… It’s big! Looks like we’ve caught something huge!”
Arna appeared to be struggling with the catch. Since magical power couldn’t be used, she’d need someone’s help soon.
Without hesitation, Shin Yoon-seong moved behind Arna and embraced her from behind.
“What, Wha… What is this all of a sudden!?”
“Hold on tightly. I’ll reel in the line.”
While Arna held her ground, Shin Yoon-seong diligently turned the handle.
After a long struggle, something finally surfaced.
“Mu, Fish!?”
Arna couldn’t believe her eyes. A fish this large showing up near the shore—its size was nearly a meter, and it had a decent girth.
It was a Busi-ri.
“Seems like it’s too far to bring it in using only this.”
Though it had surfaced, it was still quite far away. The struggle had to continue.
Clearly, the supply-issue fishing rod had its limits.
Shin Yoon-seong decided to use another method.
“Arna, just stay steady as you are.”
“Huh? What do you think you’re going to do with that spoon?”
Shin Yoon-seong pulled out a spoon, enlarging it significantly before sending it off into the sea.
He intended to use it as a seine net.
“Didn’t you hear the instructor? Using magical power was forbidden!”
“Are you suggesting we let something like this slip away? This is one we absolutely need to catch, even if it means using magical power.”
“Are you okay with failing the class?”
“We can make up for it by catching some other fish.”
For Shin Yoon-seong, it wasn’t about passing or failing the test right now. It was about catching the giant Busi-ri.
With the spoon, he successfully scooped the struggling Busi-ri from the water’s surface.
“Kiaaahhh!”
With the sudden slackening of the line, Arna lost her balance and toppled backward.
Her well-maintained golden hair and carefully washed clothes were now covered with dirt.
“…”
Ah, it was over now.
We’d used magical power already.
We’d have no choice but to fail.
If word got out that even Arna used magical power because she couldn’t catch a single fish, the community would be abuzz for a while.
“Huh, Hahaha…”
But why?
Laughter bubbled up from somewhere unexpected. Even though this was far from a situation to laugh in, the laughter wouldn’t stop.
She also felt inexplicably relieved. The deep-seated knots in her chest were gradually loosening.
Why was it? The joy of finally catching a fish after so many failures? Or maybe the guilt of breaking the rules?
“Totally disqualified as a hero…”
No matter what, Arna today wasn’t a hero.
A hero should never give up in the face of any challenge, and should pursue justice even in the presence of any temptation.
“Still…”
Sometimes, maybe it was okay to slack off like this.
Putting aside being a hero or anything else, just letting go.
Idly staring at the sky without moving.
It had been such a long time since she’d gazed at the sunset. Were the clouds truly this beautiful? She had been running ahead every day, eyes forward, without ever having time to look at the sky.
“…”
Now was the time to reflect on herself not as the hero Arna, but as simply the human Arna. It was time to think about her own happiness that she’d left behind long ago, without caring about other people’s opinions.
“Th, There’s something, isn’t there…?”
Arna stood up and turned her gaze toward Shin Yoon-seong. She looked to him for answers.
Maybe it was time, as Shin Yoon-seong suggested, to relax her shoulders just a little.
Dook.
Meanwhile, Shin Yoon-seong plunged his knife into the fish’s gills.
“Kiiaaaahhh!! What are you doing?! To my fish!”
“What’s the commotion? If you’ve caught it, you should immediately clean it and put it in the pot. Do you like spicy soup?”
“Spicy soup?! I was going to release it…”
Doook.
“Kiaaaaah! Stop it!”
“If you release this painstakingly caught Busi-ri, are you in your right mind? Instead of talking nonsense, why don’t you go fetch some soju from the icebox?”
“Soju?! Why did you even bring that with you?!”
Exactly. Let’s put the pursuit of heroism aside for a moment.
This is the time to let go of everything.
Without being bound by rules and without the need to pretend to be perfect, just be yourself.
At least while with him…
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=151,215 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
